Manage Appeals
Petition Type: New
ID: 2373
Submitted: June 13, 2016 at 8:52:43 PM
First Name: Makayla
Last Name: Keith
Student Number: 10157710
Email: 14mk29@queensu.ca
Degree Program: BS
Plan: MATH
Level of Study: 3
Petition Categories
Petition Categories: Waive the requirement to withdraw for one year
Petition Letter
Petition Letter: Dear Associate Dean,
Please allow this letter to serve as my formal appeal to your letter from May 24th 2016 stating that I am required to withdraw from Queen¿¿s for one year due to poor academic performance, specifically not attaining a 1.6 Cumulative GPA after being on academic probation.
I am appealing this decision because I believe that I am improving academically as a student, provided I am not overloading myself. I believe my biggest struggle at Queen¿¿s has been time management as well as overwhelming myself with a difficult course load. My current academic plan includes taking a lighter course load and participating in a lighter athletic schedule. I intend on taking a part time course load (9 units) each semester until I feel comfortable enough with my academic standing and progress to add another course. I have also been in communication with my coach who has agreed to give me time off whenever needed to focus on my studies, whether it be not participating in pre season training, or missing a practice each week to ensure I have adequate time to complete my work.
My success at Queen¿¿s will also depend on retaking several courses. This summer I am currently enrolled in Biology 103, a course where I previously received a grade of D-, my goal is to increase my GPA by obtaining a better grade in this course. I also intend on retaking Stat 268 and Math 281, both courses that I had failed this past year. I plan on dedicating my summers to taking electives and compensating for the part time course load I am taking during the fall and winter terms.
Further strategies for success include asking for help, and utilizing the resources that are offered to me. Coming into second year on academic probation I was embarrassed. I believe that I inhibited my potential for greater success this past year simply by being to proud to admit that I needed help. Realizing this, I plan on taking full advantage of the following:
1) Queen¿¿s Athletics Tutor Program. I will be taking advantage of this free resource weekly, to ensure I understand and am on top of the material in my classes.
2) Athletics Gaels 301 Program. As mentioned previously, I have poor time management skills. The 301 program allows me to have a motivational support system that I check in with weekly, ensuring I am staying on task and prioritizing my work.
3) Queen¿¿s Student Services. Specifically I intend on utilizing this service to craft a study schedule for the year (what times and which days I will be doing homework in specific classes) as well as using their services extensively during exam season, again to craft a specific study schedule for finals.
4) Math Help Center. This is a free resource intended for Math students; it is monitored by Masters students as well as Instructors, who are there to answer any questions that someone may have. This is a resource I had not used often enough and plan on taking full advantage of it in the coming semesters
5) Joining a study group. With my program, constant communication and dialogue between other students is extremely helpful when trying to understand difficult concepts. Previously, I had kept to myself in many of my classes. I now understand the importance of having a study group to ask questions as well as provide a support system for my studies.
These past two years at Queen¿¿s have been a extremely challenging and humbling experience. I would be extremely appreciative to be able to continue to improve myself as well as further my education at Queen¿¿s. I appreciate the time you have afforded me in reviewing this appeal and I look forward to hearing from you.
Sincerely,
Makayla Keith
Please allow this letter to serve as my formal appeal to your letter from May 24th 2016 stating that I am required to withdraw from Queen¿¿s for one year due to poor academic performance, specifically not attaining a 1.6 Cumulative GPA after being on academic probation.
I am appealing this decision because I believe that I am improving academically as a student, provided I am not overloading myself. I believe my biggest struggle at Queen¿¿s has been time management as well as overwhelming myself with a difficult course load. My current academic plan includes taking a lighter course load and participating in a lighter athletic schedule. I intend on taking a part time course load (9 units) each semester until I feel comfortable enough with my academic standing and progress to add another course. I have also been in communication with my coach who has agreed to give me time off whenever needed to focus on my studies, whether it be not participating in pre season training, or missing a practice each week to ensure I have adequate time to complete my work.
My success at Queen¿¿s will also depend on retaking several courses. This summer I am currently enrolled in Biology 103, a course where I previously received a grade of D-, my goal is to increase my GPA by obtaining a better grade in this course. I also intend on retaking Stat 268 and Math 281, both courses that I had failed this past year. I plan on dedicating my summers to taking electives and compensating for the part time course load I am taking during the fall and winter terms.
Further strategies for success include asking for help, and utilizing the resources that are offered to me. Coming into second year on academic probation I was embarrassed. I believe that I inhibited my potential for greater success this past year simply by being to proud to admit that I needed help. Realizing this, I plan on taking full advantage of the following:
1) Queen¿¿s Athletics Tutor Program. I will be taking advantage of this free resource weekly, to ensure I understand and am on top of the material in my classes.
2) Athletics Gaels 301 Program. As mentioned previously, I have poor time management skills. The 301 program allows me to have a motivational support system that I check in with weekly, ensuring I am staying on task and prioritizing my work.
3) Queen¿¿s Student Services. Specifically I intend on utilizing this service to craft a study schedule for the year (what times and which days I will be doing homework in specific classes) as well as using their services extensively during exam season, again to craft a specific study schedule for finals.
4) Math Help Center. This is a free resource intended for Math students; it is monitored by Masters students as well as Instructors, who are there to answer any questions that someone may have. This is a resource I had not used often enough and plan on taking full advantage of it in the coming semesters
5) Joining a study group. With my program, constant communication and dialogue between other students is extremely helpful when trying to understand difficult concepts. Previously, I had kept to myself in many of my classes. I now understand the importance of having a study group to ask questions as well as provide a support system for my studies.
These past two years at Queen¿¿s have been a extremely challenging and humbling experience. I would be extremely appreciative to be able to continue to improve myself as well as further my education at Queen¿¿s. I appreciate the time you have afforded me in reviewing this appeal and I look forward to hearing from you.
Sincerely,
Makayla Keith
Academic Plan
Academic Plan: Academic Plan
A) Stay in Mathematics as my current Degree Plan
B) Become a part time student completing 9 units per term
C) I plan on taking full advantage of and completing the following:
1) Queen¿¿s Athletics Tutor Program. I will be taking advantage of this free resource weekly, to ensure I understand and am on top of the material in my classes.
2) Athletics Gaels 301 Program. As mentioned previously, I have poor time management skills. The 301 program allows me to have a motivational support system that I check in with weekly, ensuring I am staying on task and prioritizing my work.
3) Queen¿¿s Student Services. Specifically I intend on utilizing this service to craft a study schedule for the year (what times and which days I will be doing homework in specific classes) as well as using their services extensively during exam season, again to craft a specific study schedule for finals.
4) Math Help Center. This is a free resource intended for Math students; it is monitored by Masters students as well as Instructors, who are there to answer any questions that someone may have. This is a resource I had not used often enough and plan on taking full advantage of it in the coming semesters
5) Joining a study group. With my program, constant communication and dialogue between other students is extremely helpful when trying to understand difficult concepts. Previously, I had kept to myself in many of my classes. I now understand the importance of having a study group to ask questions as well as provide a support system for my studies.
6) Retaking Biology 103 this summer, as well as Stat 268 and Math 281 this upcoming year. Retaking these courses will increase my GPA significantly and remove two fails.
A) Stay in Mathematics as my current Degree Plan
B) Become a part time student completing 9 units per term
C) I plan on taking full advantage of and completing the following:
1) Queen¿¿s Athletics Tutor Program. I will be taking advantage of this free resource weekly, to ensure I understand and am on top of the material in my classes.
2) Athletics Gaels 301 Program. As mentioned previously, I have poor time management skills. The 301 program allows me to have a motivational support system that I check in with weekly, ensuring I am staying on task and prioritizing my work.
3) Queen¿¿s Student Services. Specifically I intend on utilizing this service to craft a study schedule for the year (what times and which days I will be doing homework in specific classes) as well as using their services extensively during exam season, again to craft a specific study schedule for finals.
4) Math Help Center. This is a free resource intended for Math students; it is monitored by Masters students as well as Instructors, who are there to answer any questions that someone may have. This is a resource I had not used often enough and plan on taking full advantage of it in the coming semesters
5) Joining a study group. With my program, constant communication and dialogue between other students is extremely helpful when trying to understand difficult concepts. Previously, I had kept to myself in many of my classes. I now understand the importance of having a study group to ask questions as well as provide a support system for my studies.
6) Retaking Biology 103 this summer, as well as Stat 268 and Math 281 this upcoming year. Retaking these courses will increase my GPA significantly and remove two fails.
Documentation
Professional Letter: Mentor Support Letter- Makayla Keith.pdf
Document: Support Letter- Makayla Keith.pdf